How to Engage Your Employees More Effectively

In recent years, businesses have placed increasing value on employee engagement. HR specialists recognise its importance – understanding how vital engagement is in terms of productivity, motivation and employee retention.

But what exactly is employee engagement and how can you achieve it in the workplace? Here’s a guide to help you.

Social – Whether staff are happy to discuss work-related improvements or changes with other colleagues.

In short, for an employee to be fully engaged, they must be stimulated and fulfilled by their role, they must feel positively about the job (and the company as a whole), and they must also feel part of a team.

What are the benefits, precisely? According to a Kingston University study, ‘there is evidence that engaged employees perform better than others, take less sick leave and are less likely to leave their employer.’ In HR terms, this is welcome news indeed.

How to Engage Your Employees

Staff engagement plays an important role in any company. As such, it’s advisable to work with an HR specialist, who will work with you to create a strategic performance management system.

In addition to this, there are steps you can take to improve engagement within your team. Here’s just a few suggestions:

Benefits extend beyond financial reward. Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin, president and CEO of Tribe Inc. observed that staff aren’t solely motivated by money, and frequently seek “rewards beyond just their pay cheque and a day-to-day work environment.” An HR expert can help you identify what motivates each member of staff, and use this information to adopt a more tailored approach towards incentivisation.

See the bigger picture. The word ‘engagement’ can be misleading – implying that it’s your job to reach out and engage the employee; rather than focusing on creating an engaging ethos across the entire company. Work should be meaningful, and all staff should have clear understanding of how they contribute to the success of the organisation. Communication should be encouraged throughout the workplace, and all employees should feel comfortable that their voices will be heard.

Building teams. To create a positive working environment, it’s imperative to develop a strong team culture. This can be achieved in several ways. Team-building activities can help, as can holding regular meetings, and encouraging collaboration where possible.

Analyse results. Monitor staff engagement wherever possible. Encourage employees to discuss their job openly with an HR expert, who will work with them to create a personalised performance plan. Your HR specialist can use the findings to not only provide you with invaluable feedback, but also assist with putting together a strategy for the future.

Professional HR Services – South West

If you’d like to discuss staff engagement further, or are looking for assistance with any aspect of your HR or employment law, simply get in touch with Harris Law. Call us on 01803 861086 to discuss your needs further.